Speaking at a media briefing, Bristow said with Tongon now operating to plan, its focus had shifted to finding additional reserves and resources to replace depleted ounces and extend the mine's life beyond its current four-year horizon. At the same time, the mine has continued its engagement with employees and other regional stakeholders.

Elsewhere in Côte d'Ivoire, Randgold's exploration programmes have defined a large target at Boundiali in the Fonondara corridor, which Bristow described as potentially the most exciting gold prospect in West Africa. The company has just completed its annual review of its exploration targets, which Bristow said had also highlighted very positive results from its other holdings in the country, underlining again Côte d'Ivoire's exceptional prospectivity.

"The success of Côte d'Ivoire's growing gold mining industry is a tribute to the vision and commitment shared by the government and the industry, and to a mining code which is fair to both parties," Bristow said.

"We cannot rest on past achievements, however, and the future of the industry depends on new discoveries and developments. There have been some project failures recently and these I believe have shown the need for greater resolve and engagement by the government, particularly in the north of the country, where the new opportunities are located."